This page now has been updated with results of the General Election held on November 6, 2018. This page features candidates who ran in Illinois as Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians that will serve Naperville.

Thanks for reading and getting to know the candidates beforeand after you voted. Become familiar with the folks elected to serve you in DuPage and Will Counties, Springfield and Washington, D.C.

All links to candidates’ websites on this page have been requested by the candidate or campaign representative. Your PN editors do not make assumptions all candidates want to be linked to this website.

More Updates!

We welcomed candidates to send public opportunities to get to know them.

Over the past few months, candidates running in the General Election have contacted us regarding listing links on this website, advertising rates for print and online as well as editorial and endorsement policies. As mentioned above, we welcomed all inquiries and were happy to link all candidates to this “Vote” page whether or not they choose to advertise with us.

Positively Naperville does not endorse candidates in General Elections, but in the spirit of good citizenship, we’ll be urging individual citizens to exercise the right to participate in upcoming elections, pushing for individuals to go to the polls as educated voters.

We appreciate voter interest and everyone who took time to get to know all the candidates before heading to the polls for the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018. For the time being, the candidate forums will remain linked to this post for reader review.

Also, be prepared early next year to vote in the 2019 Consolidated Election on April 2, 2019.

Originally Posted, March 1, 2018 / Last Updated, November 27, 2018

Official Returns

Note: All candidates with *** were victors in the General Election. Vote totals available on websites for DuPage County Election Returns 2018 and Will County Election Returns 2018 reveal the current leaders. Twenty-one (21) calendar days after any election, results are canvassed and become official.

Candidates Elected to Serve Naperville***

U.S. Congress

Congressional Districts (6th, 11th and 14th) carved out of Naperville, Illinois, are represented by three members in the 435-member House of Representatives (Currently Naperville is served by 1 Democrat and 2 Republicans. After this election, Naperville will be served by Democrats in Congress in Washington, D.C.). Illinois has 18 Congressional Districts.
Length of term: 2 years.

41st Legislative District

42nd Legislative District

21st Legislative District

Note! Old nonpartisan story worth remembering. Though it appears organizers and supporters petitioning to put redrawing the Illinois District Maps question on the General Election Ballot, Nov. 8, 2016, had the signatures they needed, the Illinois Supreme Court did not agree. Visit Independent Map Amendment to check the old post about their progress as they aimed to create a nonpartisan 11-member board and “a system where the voters choose their representatives instead of the representatives choosing their voters.”

To help promote fair elections, PN firmly supported the Independent Map Amendment and all initiatives to place term limits on the ballot. Here we are two years later without change.

For a list of other nonpartisan supporters of the Independent Map Amendment, click here.

PN regrets any errors or omissions. We’re not perfect. If you spot a mistake, kindly email stephanie@positivelynaperville. Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who entered the race, running with thoughtful integrity & accountability & what matters to educated voters.

The Consolidated Election is next with petitions due soon that will show who wants to serve Naperville City Council as well as boards for School District 203 and District 204 and the Naperville Park District.

At 8AM Mon., Nov. 19, 11 candidates were lined up at the City Clerk’s Office to file. Four minutes later, the following residents who live within the limits of the City of Naperville had filed:

Candidates for Naperville Mayor are Steve Chirico and Rocky Caylor.

The nine residents who filed to run for Naperville City Council member are Patty Gustin, Paul Hinterlong, Bradford Miller, Michele Clemen, Theresa Sullivan, Bruce Hanson, David Wentz, Whitney Robbins and Patrick Kelly.

Note:A Consolidated Primary Election will be held on Tues., February 26, 2019, if more than four candidates file for any one office, or if there are more than 16 candidates for Council or four candidates for Mayor. The Consolidated Election, including boards for Naperville Park District (petitions at NPD) and School Districts 203 and 204 (petition packets via DuPage County) will take place on Tues., April 2, 2019.

Why be an educated voter?

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” —Plato

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead

“If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free… it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.” —Ronald Reagan

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” —John F. Kennedy

“Democracy is not a spectator sport.” —Lotte E. Scharfman, Refugee from Hitler’s Germany, Member of the Massachusetts. League of Women Voters in the 1970s

Thanks for Running

Thanks to all hopefuls for petitioning voters (and to registered voters for signing petitions and participating in the process) in order for candidates to throw their hats into the ring with a desire to serve all constituents.

We aim to monitor fair campaigns based on facts, fresh ideas and open minds. We hope thoughtful, practical and prudent candidates are elected to set goals from across the aisle, exchange ideas and serve this nation’s governing bodies with integrity, accountability and transparency.

Here’s to engaging local voters who will give time and energy to get to know the issues, the U.S. Constitution as well as independent-minded candidates who strive for liberty.

Even before the end of the 2018 General Election campaign at 7PM Nov. 6; however, we admit being disappointed by the tone of many of the candidates’ followers and their printed flyers in the mail (sometimes several from the same candidate in the same day!) as well as the extreme amount of soliciting funds that went into this campaign every day online. As we watched the returns, we felt relief that the ads, mailers, telemarketing, constant contact (mostly) finally would be over. We’ve heard from voters who are both satisfied and not so satisfied with how the elections went yesterday. Regardless, there’s no denying that the final cost of this election in Illinois will be staggering, if not stunning. Anyone have a solution for better use of campaign fundraising?

We continue, nonetheless, to hope voters in upcoming elections elect problem-solving policy makers who connect with the everyday challenges of constituents to address job creation, government regulation, national and local security and need for tax reform and fiscal responsibility; elected officials who understand unintended consequences as well as the role and limits of every governing body in a reasonable, respectful manner to protect this nation’s freedoms for “We the people…” and “…justice for all.”

The candidates listed here appear on the websites for the State of Illinois, DuPage County and/or Will County Boards of Elections with their vote numbers. Twenty-one (21) calendar days after any election, results are canvassed and will become official. Stay tuned. —PN

No need to read much further as the rest is mostly pre-Election Day voter info, commentary and feedback about this or that…

Naperville residents in Will County Early Voting / City Clerk’s Office at Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

9AM – 3PM Sun.

8:30AM -7PM Mon. – Fri.

8:30AM to 2PM Sat., Nov. 3

9AM – 3PM Sun., Nov. 4

8:30AM to 7PM Mon., Nov. 5

Have a question? Need a phone number? Call DuPage County Election Commission at (630) 407-5600.

Get to know candidates running to serve Naperville

To assist in the ease to study up, this page includes only candidates running in the Primary Elections to serve Naperville. After first winning the Primary, candidates will be on the ballot in the General Mid-Term Election on Tues., Nov. 6, 2018.

Election Judges

Be part of the upcoming election process. DuPage and Will counties are recruiting Election Judges for the Nov. 6, 2018, General Election. Illinois Statutes require bipartisan representation in every polling place. An individual must declare the party he/she will represent. Advance training is necessary as well as availability from 5AM to 9PM on Election Day. Polls are open 6AM to 7PM. For complete info about compensation and training, visit the DuPage County Election Judges or Will County Election Judges.

Editor’s Notes

Any omission in this list of Election Candidates is not intended. To report corrections, please contact Stephanie@positivelynaperville.com and include “Election” in the subject line.

Also, any campaign manager for a candidate who wishes to be linked to this website (no charge), please send request to Stephanie@positivelynaperville.com and include “Election/Candidate Website” in the subject line.

During PN’s 17-year history, this publication has not endorsed candidates. That said, we’d like to influence all voters to become informed about all the candidates running well in advance of Election Day.

The General Primary Election on March 20 was about putting names for Democrat and Republican candidates on the ballot for the General “Mid-Term” Election in November. The Primary was about all the folks “down ballot” that want to serve Naperville in seats up for election in DuPage and Will counties, Springfield and Washington, D.C.

The 2018 Primary narrowed the field. We again urge voters to get to know all the candidates that make themselves available. In support of our view of the importance to promote that all politics is local, soon this website will host opportunities to meet and greet candidates that participate in candidate forums and other Naperville events.

We understand and appreciate that sometimes Early Voting is the only way residents with busy schedules can make it to the polls.

Our hope for our Republic, however, is that voters wait to vote until Election Day on November 6, 2018, whenever possible. The final weeks of any election campaign can offer valuable insights not available during Early Voting. Thanks for being an informed voter. —PN

Now Serving Naperville

Are you familiar with the elected officials and leadership that currently serve you on governing bodies (city council, school boards, park district board of commissioners, townships) here in Naperville as well as in DuPage and Will counties, Springfield and all the way to Washington, D.C.?

FYI: Here’s a little history about the mishap during the Illinois Primary General Election in DuPage County after polls closed at 7PM Tues., March 20, 2018.

Many happy returns in DuPage County were faced with technological challenges when counting ballots with newly-implemented electronic voting machines failed to tally vote totals in a timely way. Election results were delayed big time.